Introduction

The Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) 186 is a handset-to-Ethernet
adaptor that interfaces regular analog phones with IP-based telephony networks.
The ATA 186 is installed at the premises of the subscriber and supports two
voice ports, each with its own independent phone number. This adaptor takes
advantage of broadband pipes that are deployed through digital subscriber line
(xDSL), fixed wireless, or cable modems, with Ethernet connections. It can also
be used across any Ethernet LAN.

The purpose of this document is to answer the most frequently asked
questions concerning the ATA 186.

Software Selection, Load, and Upgrade

Q.
Where can I find software for the ATA 186?

Q.
Do I need a special image to support MGCP or SCCP for ATA 186?

A. Yes. There is a special image required for Media Gateway Control
Protocol (MGCP) or Skinny Call Control Protocol (SCCP). You can download this
image from the
Cisco Software Center
(registered customers only)
.

Q.
How can I check the software version that runs on my ATA 186?

A. If you browse the ATA, the software version can be located on the
bottom left corner. Alternatively, you can press the function button on ATA and
enter 123# from the attached telephone to hear the software version through the
interactive voice response (IVR). Refer to
Cisco
ATA 186 Basic Configuration for more information on this subject.

Q.
How do I upgrade the ATA 186 from software version 1.34 to software
version 2.1x?

A. You have to upgrade to version 2.0 first, and then upgrade it to 2.1x
in order to upgrade the software to the latest release (2.1.x) from version
1.34. Refer to
Upgrading
Analog Telephone Adaptors (ATAs) for more information on this
subject.

Q.
Where can I download software version 2.0 from?

A. You can find software version 2.0 inside the latest ATA 186 software
release zip file named transition.zup. The file can be downloaded from the
Cisco Software Center
(registered customers only)
.

Q.
What are the different VoIP protocols supported by ATA 186
?

A. The ATA 186, when loaded with specific software releases, can support
these VoIP protocols:

Q.
How can I download prserv.exe ?

Note: The preserv.exe program is included in the latest Cisco ATA 186
software release zip file.

Q.
What causes the ATA 186 not to be provisioned by the TFTP
server?

A. Most probably the ATA 186 TftpURL parameter is not set
with the correct URL or IP address of the TFTP server that hosts the ATA 186
profile.

These statements apply for cases where the ATA 186 receives the TFTP
server address (IP address or URL) via a DHCP server:

Ensure that the ATA 186 parameter TftpURL is set to
0.

If the DHCP server provides an URL to locate the TFTP server, ensure
the ATA 186 parameters DNS1IP and DNS2IP are
properly set. (The ATA needs a DNS server to resolve the
URL.)

If the DHCP server provides an IP address to locate the TFTP server,
the ATA 186 does not need to consult with a DNS server.

If you use the DHCP server-assigned DNS server addresses to resolve
DNS requests, ensure that the DNS1IP and
DNS2IP parameters are set to
0.

Q.
What causes the ATA 186 to contact the TFTP server more often than I
specified in CFGINTERVAL?

A. The TOCONFIG parameter needs to be set to 0. The
factory default is set to 1, which means that the ATA 186 does not yet have a
good operating profile. Once the box has a good operating profile, this
parameter should be set to 0. This should be done by setting the parameter
TOCONFIG to 0 in the profile on the TFTP server.

Q.
I already have version 2.14 running on my ATAs. Do I have to purchase
another license to upgrade to version 2.15 or later?

Q.
How do I effect an immediate update of the ATA 186 profile from the TFTP
server (prior to the CFGINTERVAL expiration)?

A. You can only ask the ATA to refresh its box profile as soon as it is
convenient to do so. Access the refresh web page to perform this. For example,
provided you know the IP address assigned to the ATA 186, (assume
192.168.2.170) you can open the 192.168.2.170/refresh page with a web browser
in order to ask the ATA to refresh the profile from TFTP server. If the ATA is
not in a call activity, it responds with an ok page. Otherwise, it responds
with a later page. In either case, the ATA remembers the request made and
refreshes itself as soon as it can.

If you have physical access to the ATA, you can always power cycle the
ATA to effect an immediate profile update from TFTP server.

Q.
Why do we need to power cycle the ATA (kept in a closed wall cabinet)
occasionally for it to function properly?

A. You must powercycle the ATA occassionally because of the
Environmental
Specifications. The operating temperature of the ATA must be 41 to 104
degrees Fahrenheit (five to 40 degrees Celsius) with a relative humidity of ten
to 90 percent noncondensing, operating, and non-operating/storage.

Q.
What are the voice configuration menu codes for the Cisco ATA?

Q.
How do I determine if the Ethernet cable is correct?

A. The Ethernet cable has eight wires, and you can see the color code
through the transparent RJ-45 connector. Only wires 1,2,3 and 6 are used.

In a straight through Ethernet cable, wires 1,2,3 and 6 have the same
color at both ends. However, in a crossover Ethernet cable, wires 1 and 2
terminate at position 3 and 6, and wires 3 and 6 terminate at positions 1 and
2, respectively.

If you connect your ATA186 to another Ethernet device such as a router
or PC, without the use of a hub, use a crossover Ethernet cable. Otherwise, use
a straight through Ethernet cable.

Q.
What should I do when the ATA 186 does not respond via voice or web? The
green led on the back is on, the red light on the top bottom does not come on,
it is visible on the network, and it responds to a ping.

A. A hardware replacement is probably needed. Open a case with Cisco
Technical Support. Refer to Contact
Technical Support to open a case.

Q.
What if the ATA 186 red button does not blink or light?

A. You need to open a case with the Cisco Technical Support to further
troubleshoot. Refer to Contact
Technical Support to open a case.

Q.
Why do I not hear any dial tone even after I press the ATA 186 function
button?

A. ATA 186 does not give dial tones for these reasons:

The attached telephone and/or its cable is faulty, or they are not
connected properly.

The ATA 186 ports/lines with telephones attached have no assigned
UIDs (telephone numbers). You can assign UIDs via the web browser or if you use
the voice IVR menu. Most likely port 0 is used because the IVR menu
functionality is available to line 0 only. Press 3 for port 0 and press 13 for
port 1.

The ATA 186 is in the process of receiving an IP address through
DHCP. DHCP is enabled by default after version 2.11. If static IP address
configuration is needed, disable DHCP. For the cases where DHCP is required,
make a sanity check on the DHCP server and the connectivity in between.

The ATA 186 tries to register with a gatekeeper, the IP address of
which is specified in the GKORPROXY parameter. Check the IP address of the
gatekeeper. Make a sanity check with the gatekeeper and the IP connectivity in
between.

Q.
How can I get into the web GUI?

A. Complete these steps:

Press 80# on the telephone keypad to get the IP address of this
device.

Hang up the telephone handset.

Start Internet Explorer or Netscape browser.

Enter the device IP address then a keyword. For example, Internet
Explorer, address input field 192.168.2.1/dev.

Q.
Does the ATA 186 have a dial up option?

A. No, the ATA 186 does not support dial up, because it does not have a
modem card.

Q.
What combinations of voice codecs are allowed simultaneously on the ATA
186? Can it support two simultaneous calls with
G729A?

A. ATA 186 does not support two ports that use G.729a codec
simultaneously. The G.729 codec can only run on one port at a time. When one
port uses G.729, other port uses G.711. These combinations are allowed on the
ATA 186:

Two simultaneous G.723.1 codecs

Two simultaneous G.711 codecs

One G.723.1 and one G.711 codec

One G.729A and one G.711 codec (G.729A is available on first-come,
first-served basis)

Q.
Is it possible for the ATA to be configured to do H323 fast
start?

A. H323 fast start and slow start features are configured on bit 0 of the
ConnectMode parameter of the ATA 186: Use 0 for slow start and
1 for fast start. For example the default value of ConnectMode
0x00060000 shows a configuration for slow-start, whereas 0x00060001 is the
configuration required for fast start. Alternatively, this feature can be
enabled if you enter 311 in the voice menu.

Q.
Does the ATA 186 support fax pass-through?

A. The ATA 186 supports fax pass-through. It detects the fax answer tone,
disables silence suppression, and then renegotiates the coder/decoder (codec)
to G.711 u-law or G.711 A-law. It does not support ITU T.38 standard or Cisco
proprietary fax relay.

Q.
Does the Cisco ATA support Super G3 Faxes?

A. Super G3 Faxes are not supported because they use 33.6 kbps to
establish the call. ATA only supports speeds up to 14.4 kbps.

Q.
Why does the ATA 186 parameter changes made through the Web Server
Interface or interactive voice response (IVR) revert back to their previous
settings after a period of time?

A. The ATA 186 has a cached value of its profile stored in the flash ROM.
This is what you see or hear via Web Server Interface or IVR. If the
USETFTP parameter is set to 1, then the cached value of the
ATA 186 profile is synchronized with the profile located on the TFTP server.
This synchronization update of the cache value occurs approximately at the
interval determined by the CFGINTERVAL parameter value or at
power up reset. If you use TFTP for provisioning, you should not use the Web
Server Interface or IVR to modify the value of your ATA profile. The Web Server
Interface or IVR should only be used when first configuring the ATA to use TFTP
provisioning. If you do not use a TFTP to provision your ATA, and you use the
Web server interface or IVR configure the ATA profile, then the
USETFTP parameter should be set to 0.

Q.
How do I configure the ATA 186 to use Cisco Registration Level Security
or Admission Level Security in H.323 mode?

A. You need to make sure these parameters are configured properly in order
to set up H.323 Cisco Registration Level Security or Admission Level Security:

Set USELOGINID parameter to 1 (0:
LOGINID0 and LOGINID1 fields are not used, 1:
LOGINID0 and LOGINID1 fields are used for
H.323 registration).

Set UID0 and UID1 to the correct
E.164 IDs.

Set LOGINID0 and LOGINID1 to the
H323 Login IDs.

Set PWD0 and PWD1 to the correct
passwords/pins (Passwords for Radius Server).

Q.
How can I change the ATA 186 settings back to default?

IP Addressing (DHCP)

Q.
How do I configure DHCP?

A. DHCP is enabled by default in version 2.11 and later. For any version
earlier than 2.11, use the voice IVR menu and complete these steps in order to
enable it:

Press 20 to get into to DHCP.

Press 1 to enable DHCP.

Q.
Why does the DHCP search keep failing in my ATA 186?

A. Check to see if the DHCP server is up. Also, verify that your Ethernet
connection is secure and has not become loose.

Q.
How do I verify my DHCP address?

A. Press 80# from your telephone set.

Q.
If DHCP is not possible, how can I configure my ATA 186 for a static
address?

A. Use the voice IVR menu and complete these steps:

Press 20# for DHCP.

Press 0# to disable DHCP.

Press 1# for IP address and enter the IP address using * for dot
and end with #.
For example, 192*1*1*1#.

Press 2# for Network Route Address.
For example, 192*1*1*2#.

Press 10# for Subnet Mask.
For example, 255*255*255*0#.

Q.
Why can I not ping the ATA 186 after I configure a static address through
the voice menu?

A. Make sure that DHCP is disabled. The ATA 186 allows you to configure
static network address parameters even though DHCP is enabled. Go to the voice
menu, press 20 and then press 0 in order to disable DHCP. Make sure that you
press 3# in order to save the configuration.

Using the ATA 186 with a Gatekeeper

Q.
What if the ATA 186 registration is rejected by the gatekeeper, which
contains more than one zone prefix command?

A. If delivering more than one zone prefix on the gatekeeper, the
UserID/E.164 values (telephone numbers) on the H.323 endpoint (that is, the ATA
186) must be within a defined zone prefix on the gatekeeper.

Q.
How does the alternate gatekeeper feature work on the ATA 186 and what
RAS messages are supported for the alternate gatekeeper feature?

A. The ATA 186 allows a primary and a secondary gatekeeper (static
alternate gatekeeper) to be configured. It can accept up to four dynamic
alternate gatekeepers configured by the H.225 Registration, Admission, and
Status Protocol (RAS) messages. It can handle both temporary and permanent
alternate gatekeepers. When an alternate gatekeeper list is received with a
H.225 RAS message, the secondary gatekeeper is merged and sorted with the
dynamic alternate gatekeepers. The secondary gatekeeper is kept and placed with
the lowest priority. In order to allow the ATA to switch back to the primary
gatekeeper automatically, a timeout value in seconds is configured in the
AltGkTimeOut parameter. Currently, the ATA supports the
alternate gatekeeper list in the GCF/GRJ, ACF/ARJ, RCF/RRJ, and DRJ RAS
messages.

Q.
Can I limit the bandwidth between the ATA 186 and the gatekeeper?

A. No, you cannot limit the bandwidth in ATA186. You can configure
bandwidth in gatekeeper.

General Troubleshooting

Q.
How can I recover the ATA 186 if I forget the password?

A. There are two important passwords for ATA 186. One is the
UIPassword, which protects access to the ATA web server
interface. The other password is the EncryptKey, which protects access to the
TFTP profile.

If you forgot the value for the UIPassword but still
have access to provision with TFTP, you can modify the
UIPassword through TFTP. However, if you are not provisioning
via TFTP, or you forgot both passwords, open a case with the Cisco TAC to
further troubleshoot. Refer to Contact TAC to open a case.

Q.
Why does the ATA 186 ring the phone after plugging it into the analog
port?

A. You cannot turn off the ring. By default, it always rings when you plug
the ATA 186 into the analog port.

Q.
How can I debug the ATA 186?

A. A debugging tool, the prserv.exe program is used in conjunction with
the NPrintf configuration parameter. You can find the
prserv.exe file by downloading ata186-v2-13-0110a-2.zip. The
Nprintf value is the IP address of your computer and can be
set through voice menu 81#, or by a web browser. Make sure you include port#
9001 with the IP address.

Q.
How do I troubleshoot problems when Cisco ATA uses fax over a Cisco IOS®
gateway?

Q.
Why do forward/redirect calls from the phone attached to the analog port
of the ATA186 not work, but it is able to place and receive calls?

A. This is because you cannot forward/redirect calls. The assumption is
that you have configured the ATA 186 as an H.323 gateway in CallManager. Cisco
recommends that you configure it as a dual-line H.323 client in order to have
this functionality. Alternatively, you can download and use
ata186-v2-12-ms-1129b-1.zip v2.12 software for SCCP and MGCP from CCO. This
image allows you to use the ATA 186 as an MGCP/Skinny gateway.

Q.
How do I control the line polarity of the Cisco ATA FXS ports when a call
is connected or disconnected?

Note: If the ATA plays a recorder tone even after the call is disconnected,
change the polarity field to 0x0000000c in order to
resolve the issue.

Q.
The calls are not terminated on Cisco ATA 186, how do I troubleshoot this
issue?

A. In order to resolve this issue, set the
Polarity
field in the ATA 186 web interface to 0x00000002. This makes
the ATA send a "battery reversal" signal that indicates the disconnect to the
paging system. Refer to
Configure
the ATA 186 through a Web Server for information on ATA 186 Web
configuration.

Q.
I am unable to connect to a built-in HTTP server with Cisco ATA 186. How
do I troubleshoot this issue?

A. Make sure that you access the ATA 186 with the correct URL:
http://<ATA-IP>/dev.

Q.
How do I troubleshoot a Cisco ATA 186 Auto-Registration Failure?

A. ATA 186 Auto-Registration fails if the XMLDefault file
exceeds 4000 in size. If you use the manual Registration, this issue does not
occur. The solution is to increase the TFTP buffer size in ATA software from
4000 to 10000. Refer to Cisco Bug ID
CSCsd44357
(registered customers only)
for more information.